Why China wants you to learn Chinese – Carol Huang

From the Christian Science Monitor, another article about China’s promotion of Chinese language training through government-sponsored Confucius Institutes, this one focusing on concerns that the institutes are primarily channels to promote government propaganda:

What do New York, Hawaii, Kansas, California, Mexico, France, Serbia, South Korea, Egypt, Australia, Russia, and Rwanda have in common?

Almost nothing, except that they now play host to the language-and-culture centers being mass-produced by the Chinese government with trademark Chinese speed and efficiency: 130 Confucius Institutes (CI) have been established in 50 countries over the past few years. The United States already has a dozen, with several more in the works. Their purpose, say Beijing officials, is to promote the Chinese language and enhance China’s relationships around the world.

Against the backdrop of China’s rise as an economic power, many Americans are eager to learn the language. Yet some are concerned about China’s motives. [Full text]

– Read previous articles about Confucius Institutes, via CDT.

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